Tom Saintfeit denied work permit by Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe will have to look for another foreign coach. The nation known to be allergic to success had given a job to Tom Saintfiet of Belgium. The permit application of the former Namibian coach was unsuccessful. It means he has to go back to the Namibian Football Association to beg them to fire the current coach and give him the reigns.

Both clubs and the nation association of this diamond rich football loving state are known to be attracted to the failing foreign coaches. The local coaches have always had successes but that is not always what football there is all about.

Zimbabwe national team qualified for AFCON tournament twice under local coaches and the nation was unhappy with that success. Sunday Marimo and Charles Mhlauri did what foreign coaches will never do for Zimbabwe. Sunday actually took Dynamos to the Champions League finals while Rahman Gumbo has won more trophies and championships than any other local coach and still, Bosso and the nation do not like such success. It makes them vomit.

In 1995, the All-Africa Games under-23 teams reached the finals under Wieslow Grabowski and Barry Daka, yet that counts for nothing. I surely do not think Wieslow would be good enough, but then there are a lot other local coaches. I like foreign coaches, especially their accent when speaking English. The day that nation decides to win anything, they should go local, refrain from interefring with team selection so as to be able to throw games and just pay the coaches.

It is still to be seen how the contract Saintfeit signed will go. ZIFA may have a cool sum to pay for the termination of the contract and one cannot rule out the same mess Highlanders are in with Mohammed Fathi. Bosso are at pains literally, trying to see off their obligation to their favourite coach as the case is attracting the attention of the coach's embassy.

As for Tom, he was disqualified for engaging in employment activity without the necessary permit. ZIFA erred in letting conduct training sessions before the process was complete because they thought 'working' meant sitting on the bench in the match days, in that case, for the AFCON qualifier match against Cape Verde.

After Saintfiet's deportation, Norman Mapeza and Madinda Ndlovu were announced as joint coaches, with Madinda the head and Norman his deputy, by Ben Moyo, but the President of ZIFA gate crushed the training sessions after Moyo left and charged the 2 had 'same powers'. Mapeza has since withdrawn from serving his nation and the mother body confirmed that Mapeza was under-qualified for the job.

Madinda is currently the acting coach of the Warriors as they prepare for a friendly match against Mozambique. He will be assisted by Friday 'Amayenge' Phiri. Should ZIFA re-advertise for the post or they should just leave the Zimbabwe legends to do the job?